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The Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel,
VIII Bishop of Olympia
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Unbalanced, Unjust, Untenable

11/19/2021

12 Comments

 
​Dear Ones,

I was saddened to learn of the verdict today in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the young man who traveled to Kenosha, WI last year and fatally shot two people, seriously injuring a third. The incident brought to the surface many of the issues that our country wrestles with - and all-too-often attempts to ignore - around racial justice, white vigilantism, and gun violence. Rittenhouse came to Kenosha, heavily armed, as part of a mob of white men to stop the protests for racial justice and took two lives. Under the auspices of protecting property, he came prepared to commit violent acts and did just that. As the prosecutor stated, there is a difference in defending yourself from violence perpetrated against you, and you creating the situation in order for you to do it - or more specifically, “You lose the right to self-defense when you’re the one who brought the gun, when you are the one creating the danger, when you’re the one provoking other people.”

As the verdict came in today, it has been widely observed that we have two legal systems in this country - one for white men, and one for everyone else. Many have suggested that if Rittenhouse had been Black, the verdict would have been drastically different. I would go further - when you watch the videos of that night, I would say if Rittenhouse had been Black, he most likely would not have come out of that night alive. A young white man brazenly carrying an automatic weapon through city streets was virtually ignored by law enforcement. Had it been a Black man, I do believe the result would be drastically different.

In these same days we are witnessing the trial of the ambush of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man, in Brunswick, Georgia. And even with all the accused admitting that Arbery was unarmed and ultimately not threatening them, and all evidence pointing to Arbery trying to flee the scene unarmed, this case hangs in this unjust balance as well. In both cases, we see self-appointed vigilante’s taking justice into their own hands. And folks, if it can happen to these folks, it can just as easily happen to any of us.

But, the point is, mostly, it doesn’t. Especially if we are white, if we are privileged, if we have enough money to defend ourselves. We simply must do better, and we must be better.

This comes only one day after a judge in New York “prayed” about the sentencing of a young white man who had pleaded guilty to charges rape, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment and only gave the man probation because he said that prison time "wasn’t appropriate" (https://lawandcrime.com/crime/judge-prayed-about-it-and-decided-that-prison-time-for-admitted-rapist-of-teen-girls-isnt-appropriate/).

We know that incarceration rates for Black Americans is five times the rate of white Americans, and for Latin Americans it is 1.3 times higher (https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/color-of-justice-racial-and-ethnic-disparity-in-state-prisons/). According to the ACLU, women who kill their abusers will spend an average of 15 years in prison, while men who kill their spouses spend two to six years in prison (https://www.domesticshelters.org/articles/in-the-news/women-serve-longer-prison-sentences-after-killing-abusers). Men from Indigenous communities are four times more likely to be incarcerated than white men, while Indigenous women are six time more likely (https://www.jailedformelanin.org/native-commuities).

Justice is supposed to be blind, but time and time again, our justice system has been proven to favor white men. It is severely out of balance.

I pray for all involved in this case, including Kyle Rittenhouse. I pray for all the victims of gun violence. I pray for our country and for our justice system. There is so much that needs to change. Let’s engage and act so that we may see a more just system going forward. To get involved in making our criminal justice system equitable, you can see what steps The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations recommends here: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ogr/get-involved-with-criminal-justice-reform/

Blessings,

+Greg
12 Comments
Karen Jensed
11/19/2021 05:37:45 pm

Thank you for this very thoughtful and meaningful piece.

Reply
jane wolfe
11/19/2021 05:38:47 pm

For me, one of the dangers these days is that those we appoint/vote in/etc to uphold justice aren't blind as justice should be, they are wide awake, eyes open and deliberately corrupt. This kind of lying corrodes governance faster than global warming corrodes the air, land and sea. We want chaos? well then, stick with the lying. We want order, respect, trust, faith and well being, repent, straighten up, drop the "innocence" mask and share life, suffering, joy, peace and hope with all of us.

Reply
Nicole Leprohn
11/19/2021 06:51:21 pm

Thank you, bishop rickel. Too often the church - including the episcopal church- takes a middle ground, a "blind" approach. Justice is not blind unfortunately. She looks at the color of skin and decides.

Reply
Nancy Boutwell
11/19/2021 07:37:54 pm

Thank you, Bishop Greg. Well stated. May God Forgive us.

Reply
Ms Susan Lane
11/19/2021 07:42:03 pm

I am very disturbed at this response to the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict. It's obvious to me that you, Bishop Rickel, did not hear the true facts of the case as presented by the defense. Shame on you!
It is for situations like this where you should be objective and not opinionated that I as a 'cradle Episcopalian' am leaving the church.
It grieves me to do so but all the totally liberal values that the church now embraces go against my beliefs....so sad.

Reply
Janet Hallauer
11/20/2021 08:46:30 am

Thank you. We need that.
Blessings to you, too.

Reply
thank you for your courage to speak out...\
11/20/2021 05:03:46 pm

thank you for your courage to Speak Out and Inward.

Reply
grethe barber
11/20/2021 05:05:49 pm

Thank you for your honesty

Reply
grethe barber
11/20/2021 05:07:32 pm

I agree, disturbing trial results...

Reply
Austin
11/21/2021 08:26:02 am

You're honestly stupid🤣😂
The fact you think he was guilty is outrageous. You don't understand how to look at facts, footage, testimonies, rights, etc....

You should do some studying instead of having a retarded opinion

Reply
Ricky
11/21/2021 09:27:55 am

I am saddened by this response from a leader. I will not be shamed for the color of my skin. I will not apologize for my thoughts on the second amendment. I also question your taking the place of our creator and claiming to know someone’s intentions. You state these lies as facts, though you seem to be in the dark.

Reply
Robert Chapman link
11/21/2021 02:14:09 pm

We know who shot first. It is on the videos. We also know Rittenhouse wasn't protecting an auto dealership when he shot first.

I think that there are people that don't realize what type of precedence this creates.

These people don't know how many people carry a firearm besides those screaming for "2nd Amendment Rights."

The reason "I felt threatened" works both ways.

Do not feel surprised when some white male carrying an AR-15 penis extension in a tense situation is shot because "someone felt threatened." I don't look forward to it. It will be a sad day. However, it will happen. The precedence has been set.

After Rittenhouse shot someone, there was a person with a pistol that had a clear shot, but chose not to shoot. Next time he may not be as lucky. "I was afraid Rittenhouse would shoot again."

This has nothing to do about being ashamed of being White. We should be ashamed that earlier in Kenosha a Black man was shot by police without good cause but Rittenhouse could walk by police officers after shooting someone brandishing a weapon. We should be ashamed of the _legal system_ that allows this to happen. Skin color alone has nothing to do with it.

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    The Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel is the VIII Bishop of Olympia, the Episcopal Church in Western Washington State.  He has been the bishop here since September, 2007. 

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